Security and Development in Global Politics ─ A Critical Comparison

This collection of sixteen essays examines the nexus of security and development in seven core arenas of global politics: aid, humanitarian assistance, governance, health, poverty, trade and resources, and demography. In this respect, they consider security/development beyond conflict contexts. The book is organized around these seven areas. Each section is devoted to one with three sub-chapters: a development perspective, a security perspective, and editors comments. An introductory essay reviews existing security/development literature by both academics and practitioners. Particular sections consider triangular relationships between state-building, counterinsurgency, and humanitarianism; elections as a security mechanism; the pros and cons of securitizing health issues; how poverty-driven marginalization threatens security; malevolent actors who fund themselves through international trade; and demographic transitions. Key questions explored include what security/development mean, what should it prioritize, what principles should guide it, and how might it be promoted in practical terms? The contributors are practitioners in international institutions and NGOs, as well as scholars in policy-oriented think-tanks, mostly in Washington DC and three in Britain. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Joanna Spear is director of the Security Policy Studies Program and an associate professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. She is also an associate fellow at Chatham House in London.

Paul D. Williams is an associate professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University.